Stars return for KCB as they face Mwamba in Kenya Cup fixture
Despite holding the favourites tag, Kenya cup defending champions KCB have declared that they will tread carefully against Mwamba RFC for granted when the two teams face off in a belated round five fixture this weekend.
KCB, who are home and dry in the play-offs, will be using the encounter to test some of their fringe players while Mwamba too well that a loss will deal a hinge blow to their chances of qualification in the same stage.
A win for Mwamba will keep their hopes alive although the same will be pegged on the performance of their closest challengers Strathmore in their last three matches. KCB’s new find Alvin “Buffa” Otieno, who will be making his debut with the team, has already sounded war drums ahead of the match, so is captain Darwin Mukidza.
“Playing Mwamba will not be easy and it will require great character which we should strive to exhibit from the word go. We are targeting a bonus point early in the first half. Against BlakBlad we split points so we have no option but to make sure we get bonus wins before the playoffs,” said Mukidza.
The Bankers coach Curtis Olago will be hoping to keep the Black Shirts under the right pressure at the same venue they had to rally 10-3 from behind to sink hosts Harlequins 45-10.
“I can’t really talk about the playoffs right now. I prefer taking each game at a time and after the Harlequins match we identified a few arrears ahead of the fixture against Mwamba,” he said Olago further offered: “We will need to maintain the second half defensive play and that means we must keep them under the right pressure from the kickoff”
Shujaa players including Levy Amunga, Jacob Ojee, Vincent Onyala, Alvin Otieno qare probable starters while Johnstone Olindi is expected to bne a substitute alongside scrum half Michael Wanjala.
Against Quins last weekend, Wanjala came as a substitute and illuminated play, bagging a brace besides making up two assists for tries e-route to his team’s victory.
Elsewhere in Kakamega, Nondescripts have a seemingly tough outing against Kabras .
The Red Lion was the first Kenya Cup side to chalk up a win over the sugar milling side in Lurambi, Kakamega.
However, relegation-threatened Nondies must concede that that they have a mountain to climb since they will be up against an unbeaten side that has won all matches with a bonus.
